Arizona weekly enterprise., 1887-04-09
WANTED To ADLouRN.

coed in imitation of stone Here and there the angry storms. indignant at the palpab!e fraud, had torn off DOT tions of the oater garment, leaving the dingy brick exposed The building was two stories high, with a basement, and ornamented with heavy columned porticos, from the floors of which on a hot July day pitch exuded like patrio- tism from the disintefested office-seek- CTS who thronged the lobby and the hall. The legislature was in full ses- sion and the scene was a most animated one. Never in any country has a stranger sight been seen. At one end of the hall the State senate was in ses- sion. At the other the house of as sembly was incubating, and in the hall and rotunda negro festival was in progress, the right to hold it within those sacred precincts having been given by solemn vote of the assembled statesmen.
 It was an amusing sight. Upon plain pine tables, grouped around the halls rested huge dishes of chicken stew and chicken pie, fanked with cake, pie, biscuit and other things cal culatcd to tempt the legislative appe- tite. Behind these sat jolly. laughing "aunties, dressed in cool calico gar ments, with green boughs to keep of the flies olive brauches carried by black doves, as it were. to show that the journey of the ark was over and peace aud plenty could bo had. Be- hind large tub of lemonade yellow Venus presided, and with seductive smiles and tin dipper beguiled dimes and picayunes out of thirsty passers- by. The center of attraction, how ever, was the watermelon table, behind which a stalwart black, knife in hand. shouted at short intervals: 'Yah's your nice slice of watermillion; only half dime slice Walk up gem men, an try it. Get rum uncr dat table, you triHin' pot-l ckin' boy, or I'll chop otfen yer head wid dis yer knife"
 Under and around the tables little children, cute in their blacknesS, rOmped and gamboled. and through the halls and out on the broad piazzas young girls, with arms around each other s waists, leisurely sauntercd, their bright eyes flashing as they caught the adIniring glances of soae proud Cau- casian. Old mothers in the church in little groups discussed some knotty question in theology, while their strong CT halves crowded the legislature in open-mouthed and awesome wonder at the eioquence and learning there dis played. There was proiusion of white dresses and gorgeous ribbons, and all was joy and laughter and song. Near tue watermelon tab.e quartet of happy young girls sang in low melo- diouss voice the song of the Methodist convert. The song w;is not loud enough to disturb the legislature to be heard very far away, but to the young north ern invalid, leaning against huge pil- lar gazing in amused idleness Ut the scene, it sounded very quaint and sweet.
 Inside the house of assembly the scene was equally animated, but hard ly more dignifed. 4 white member, so drunk that he could hardly keep his scat, was gazing at the speaker with owl-like gravity One or two of the negroes, with thumbs stltc& in tic ragged arnlholcs ot their waistcoats, in humble imitation of some of their white eonfreres, strutted about the floor Others, bolt upright in their seats, munched pVTnUTs. to the dron- ing aecompanime nt of the reading clerks voice. as he hastily called the vote on minor bills. From my coign of vantage near the speakers chair I watched the changing scene.
 The Rev. Scipio Palma, member from Dug'0ut, was growing terribly impa- tient. Never to him had the session seemed so long The Rev. Seipio dur ing the slave times had been the drieer of theefamily coach, but after he became free, having noticed that tho negro preachers did no hard work aud always looked fat and glossy, he dc- cided to join that ik, and being able to read little he had no trouble in do- ing so. Now he was in grave trouble. lie was great lover Of watermelon. Every once in a while he could hear the noise and confusion of the festival, and he squirmel in his chair as though covered with fleas. He did not know but what he would be expelled if he left before adjournment. and as he was getting 410 g day for his services he dared not risk the venture. Still from the hall came the cry, Water million, on'y 10 cents slice. " He became more and more uneasy. At last q bright idea struck him, and leaping to his feet he shouted at the top of his powerful voice: "Mistah Speakah"' Al eyes were turned in his direction. and the speaker an- nounced: "'fhe gentleman from Dug Out has the floor, From the corridor came the cry: Look at dis boss watermillion. See how red his insides am Oh, my aiu't him whopper, an on'y dime slice.
 The Rev, Scipio was a sight. He was bathed in precipitation, and his eyes were nearly starting from his head as he glanced auxieusly at the door. In response to the speaker $ recognition, he yeiled with frantic energy: "MStat Speakah, I moves dat we now deiourn." !"
 From the other side of the house g tall, thin white man arose, and, point ing his long foreinger at Scipio, said
 'l ,inccrely hope that tue gentlemar from Dug Out will withdraw his mo
 ton. We nave a very important measure now pending before the house The discussion can not possibly las i over three hours. and l expect that tht
 honorable gentleman himself will like 1 to be-heard on the subject.